- Title: Barcelona fans resigned and disappointed after Champions League elimination
- Date: 9th December 2021
- Summary: BARCELONA, SPAIN (DECEMBER 9, 2021) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF CAMP NOU STADIUM VARIOUS OF NEWSPAPER KIOSK AT LA RAMBLA BOULEVARD HEADLINES OF SPORTS NEWSPAPERS SHOWING NEWS OF BARCELONA'S ELIMINATION FROM CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FRONT PAGE OF 'MUNDO DEPORTIVO' NEWSPAPER READING (Spanish) "Under zero" FRONT PAGE OF 'SPORT' NEWSPAPER READING (Spanish) "Good-bye" FRONT PAGE OF 'AS' NEWSPAPER READING (Spanish) "Hell" (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) RETIRED BARCELONA FAN, JOSE LEON, 77, SAYING: "Well Barcelona out of the Champions League is a big blow but it might be good for us because we can't have the same insecurities for so long. So this will make us react, but who knows if for good or bad." VARIOUS OF JOSE LEON AND HIS DOG AT LA RAMBLA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FC BARCELONA FAN AND STUDENT, ALEX ZUNEDA, 19, SAYING: "We could see it coming, but I don't know, there's disappointment because it's quite sad not to even get through the group stages." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FC BARCELONA FAN, DIRA PENALOSA, 41, SAYING: "Champions League requires a lot of skill and personality, which is precisely what Barcelona is lacking now, personality." (SOUNDBITE) (Catalan) FC BARCELONA FAN, AINA ESPELLETA, 18, SAYING: "Now, everything will be worst. Next year, it will also go badly because we will be playing the Europa League. Now we are seventh in the league, so if we don't qualify, we'll not win the Cup or anything." VARIOUS OF BARCELONA DISPLAYED AT KIOSK (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FC BARCELONA FAN DIRA PENALOSA, 41, SAYING: "I'm officially disappointed because how could they let Messi go? We would need one season or two to overcome this and I don't know what else to say because Xavi can't do miracles right? I'm disappointed but that's mainly because they let Messi go."
- Embargoed: 23rd December 2021 12:11
- Keywords: Bayern Munich Europa League Xavi Hernandez elimination of FC Barcelona of Champions League fans
- Location: BARCELONA, SPAIN
- City: BARCELONA, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Europe,Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001F7BHNI7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Resigned Barcelona fans said on Thursday (December 9) they were disappointed after the Catalan club crashed out of the Champions League following a 3-0 defeat at Bayern Munich on Wednesday (December 8), failing to make it past the group stages of the competition for the first time in 17 years.
"We could see it coming, but I don't know, there's disappointment because it's quite sad not to even get through the group stages," said Barca fan Alex Zuneda.
Since 2001 Barcelona had made it to at least the Champion's League round of 16, but now it will continue in the second tier Europa League after finishing third in their group behind Benfica which qualified as group runner-up with a win over Dynamo Kyiv.
Barca failed to create goal chances in the second half against Bayern Munich on Wednesday and scored just twice in six group games.
The Catalans have lost their last two matches in all competitions since new coach Xavi Hernandez's first defeat in charge of the side by Real Betis on Saturday.
(Production: Horaci Garcia, Miguel Gutierrez) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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